Pianoforte-case.



, PATENTED APR. '7, 1908.

J. A. HUSSEY' PIANOFORTE CASE. Arrmonlon TILED nun. 10. 1906.

I I cm, vuumorn, 1.1;.

JOHN A. HUSSEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PIANOFORTE-GASE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 7, 1908.

Application filed March 10, 1906. Serial No. 305,428.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. HUSSEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Pianoforte-Cases, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to upright piano cases, and consists of a curved front panel extension which is intended to take the place of the ordinary upper panel, the object being to furnish a more conspicuous and artistic case, as well as to improve the acoustic properties of the instrument on purely scientific principles; the large curved surfaces serving to reinforce the tone of the instrument, causing it to blend more perfectly with the voice in singing. A further object being to fur nish a natural music rack without any changing of the parts being necessary. To this end I construct a curved front panel starting at the music shelf and extending upward and forward above the regular case, forming a beautiffil canopy top above the key-board, which appears to complete the decorative embelishment of piano case architecture.

In the drawings forming a part of .this specification, Figure 1, shows a side elevation of a piano case having'my front panel extension. Fig. 2 shows a front view of a portion of the panel extension removed from the case. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line wx of Fig. 2, showing the mechanical construction.

By referring the the drawing, it is seen that the front panel extension starts at a point near the front edge of the music shelf G, Fig. 1, and curves upward and forward to the point 0, extending above the regular case and forward of the key-board forming a cano y to over the front of the instrument. The dbtted lines 8, indicate the position of the sheet of music, which is kc t in place by the cleat or rib o, attached to t e music shelf G.

Fig. 3 shows the construction with bent panels 1 and rails 2, held in place by end pieces 3, music shelf G, top piece e, and tie piece 4. The rear edge or cleat 5 is intended to fit inside of the top of the sides 6, of the case and the whole is held in place by turn buttons 7, only one of which is shown.

It is obvious that the greater weight of this canolply attachment is forward of its chit rests and unless some means base on w were provided to secure it in place it would fall forward away from the upright portion of the piano case. The turn buttons 7 are provided for this purpose; the canopy portion is set into place with the cleats 5 adjacent to cleats not shown inside the piano case, after which the turn buttons are turned on their pivots to extend partly back of the cleats, not shown, in the iano case. The top lid of the piano case is opened to give access to the turn buttons 7.

In the application of my invention, it is evident that the curved panel portion may be constructed in many different ways without departing from the spirit of the invention. Also the music shelf G may be permanently attached, or not, but I prefer to make it a partof the construction on account of the support it furnishes to the panel when the same is detached from the case.

Claims 1. A case for an upright piano having an upight rectangular ortion, a horizontally extending key-board frame secured to said upright portion, and a canopy secured to said uprl ht portion extending above said frame and in front of said upright portion.

2. A case for an upright piano having an upright rectangular portion, a horizontally extending key-board frame secured to said upright portion, and a canopy secured to and in front of said upright portion comprising a curved panel.

3. A case for an u right piano having an upright portion, a horizontally extending ame secured to said upright portion, and a canopy secured to and in front of said upright portion comprising a plurality of panels.

4. A case for an upright piano having an upright portion, a horizontally extending frame secured to said upright portion, ashelf secured above said frame, and a canopy secured above and to said shelf and in front of and to said upright portion.

5. A case for an u right piano having an upright portion, a horizontally extending frame secured to said upright portion, and a removable canopy secured above said frame and to the front of said upright portion.

JOHN A. HUSSEY.

Witnesses:

R. J. JAoKER, GEO. B. DURKEE. 

